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OPERATIONS & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Business Succession Planning
Protect the organization when leadership or ownership changes
Why It Matters
Many small businesses and nonprofits depend heavily on one founder or executive. When that person leaves without a plan, clients, funders, staff, and even the organization's value can go with them. Succession planning at the enterprise level is about continuity: who will own or lead, how relationships transfer, and what happens in an emergency. Starting early gives owners and boards more options and gives employees and partners confidence that the work will continue.
Course Description
Participants work on their own organization or a detailed case. They begin with a dependency audit: which relationships, decisions, and know-how currently sit with one person. Next they compare transition paths, including family succession, internal leadership transfer, sale to employees or outside buyers, and a board-led executive transition for nonprofits. Small groups build an emergency succession plan for a sudden departure and then a longer planned transition with milestones. Discussion covers communicating with staff and stakeholders, preparing a successor, and which questions require attorneys, accountants, or valuation professionals. Each participant leaves with a draft succession roadmap and a short list of first steps for the next quarter.
Key Focus Areas
Participants explore and practice:
Auditing key-person dependencies across clients, funders, and operations
Comparing family, internal, sale, and board-led transition options
Building an emergency succession plan for sudden departures
Preparing a successor and transferring key relationships
Communicating a transition to staff, clients, and partners
Learning Outcomes
Participants will be able to:
Identify the roles, relationships, and knowledge most at risk in a transition
Compare succession paths against the owner's or board's goals
Draft an emergency succession plan with clear interim authority
Build a transition roadmap with milestones and responsible parties
Who Should Attend
Small business owners and founders
Nonprofit executive directors and board members
Family business leaders
Senior leaders planning retirement or exit
Delivery and Customization
Examples, scenarios, and activities are adapted to your audience and goals. Delivery is available in person, virtually, or in a hybrid format, as a standalone session or as part of a series. Format and length are agreed during scoping.
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Bring Business Succession Planning to your team
Tell us about your audience and goals. We will follow up to scope objectives, format, and timing.